Bantay Senado presses Duterte to attend trial

QUEZON CITY — Bantay Senado expressed frustration over Vice President Sara Duterte’s absence on the first day of her impeachment trial, renewing its call for her to personally attend the proceedings and answer the allegations against her.

The group, a non-partisan citizens’ monitoring network for the Senate impeachment trial, said the first day of proceedings was long awaited by the public and should have been faced personally by Duterte.

Residents of Barangay Krus na Ligas who attended Bantay Senado’s Impeachment TamBayanan community watch party also voiced disappointment over the vice president’s absence.

“Mukhang hinayaan na lang ni VP Sara na yung mga abogado niya ang humarap sa kanyang lugar. Frustrating na wala siya sa sarili niyang trial. Sana pumunta siya, dahil gusto naming makita siyang personal na sumagot sa mga akusasyon sa kanya,” said a resident of Brgy. Krus Na Ligas who joined the community watch party.

Bantay Senado Convenor and Spokesperson Prof. Cleve V. Arguelles said Duterte missed a key opportunity to face the process.

“Wala si VP Sara sa unang araw ng sarili niyang trial. Frustrating ito para sa mamamayan na matagal nang naghihintay na marinig siya at makita siyang personal na sumagot sa mga akusasyon laban sa kanya. Ito ang kanyang pagkakataon na harapin ang proseso — at hindi niya ito ginamit,” Arguelles said.

Bantay Senado also welcomed the prosecution’s position that the trial should be guided strictly by the evidence presented and the testimony of witnesses, rather than by procedural or technical distractions.

“We welcome the prosecution’s position that this trial must be anchored on evidence and on what the witnesses will testify to. That is how it should be, that  the trial must be decided on the facts, not on legal technicalities. This is exactly why VP Duterte’s personal attendance matters even more: she owes it to the process, and to the Filipino people, to be present as the evidence and testimony are laid out,” Arguelles said.

The group reiterated its call for a trial that is transparent, accessible, and grounded in evidence.

Bantay Senado said Duterte herself should be present to answer the charges against her, as it said the Filipino public has long demanded.

Bantay Senado is a non-partisan citizens’ monitoring network formed to help ensure that the Senate impeachment trial of Duterte is conducted with transparency, fairness, and fidelity to the Constitution.

The group is a flagship initiative of Team Pinas Foundation and currently counts more than 500 registered volunteers across the Philippines.